‘Don’t make it permanent’ cautions Tavares-Finson while backing Govt’s decision to withdraw funds from NHT

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AFP) — Government Senator Christian Tavares-Finson, while supporting the Administration’s decision to continue withdrawing billions from the National Housing Trust (NHT) for budgetary support, has cautioned that such draw downs should not be permanent.

Tavares-Finson gave the caution and his “strong support” during the debate in the Senate on Friday on the National Housing Trust (Amendment) (Special Provisions) Bill, 2026 which was subsequently passed without amendment. It paved the way for the government to continue withdrawing $11.4 billion from the NHT for the next five years. The bill was earlier passed in the House of Representatives.

In defending the Government’s decision, Tavares-Finson said “We must approach this issue with honesty and realism”, while arguing that “governments do not operate in ideal circumstances”.